UTSA employees 'Go the Extra Mile' for SECC

(Sept. 20, 2005)--Nearly 70 faculty and staff from The University of Texas at San Antonio rallied at the Downtown Campus Southwest Room to hear and say a few good words about the State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) Monday morning. The campaign ends Friday, Sept. 23.

Banners urged guests at the rally and breakfast to "go the extra mile" for SECC, which is based this year on the motto, "Committed to a Stronger Community."

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The message hit home with Veronica Rossano, an administrative associate with the Institute for Economic Development. Although she is a relatively newcomer to the UTSA community, she plans to open her heart and purse to some of the more than 100 SECC-eligible agencies.

United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County manages the SECC contributions.

"I've given to United Way over the years, but have never been in a crisis situation," she said. "Still, I know United Way has different types of agencies that do so much for the community. They help the elderly and they help children. Many people rely on their support."

Ralph Crist, an 18-and-a-half-year veteran of law enforcement in Bexar County and now a work-study student in computer science at UTSA, contributed directly to those in need in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Crist said he appreciates the work of agencies affiliated with United Way.

"We have heard reports of some fraud out there, but you know United Way will get the funds to people who require them," he said.

Rachel Tamez, an administrative associate with the Institute for Economic Development's Southwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center, formerly worked for a United Way Agency that provided care, including group homes, for mentally challenged children and adults.

With UTSA four years, she backs SECC and hopes to give more.

"We don't have a lot, but there are people out there who don't have anything," Tamez said.

That makes her one of the hundreds of men and women in the UTSA community who are doing it one step at a time.